Day 22, July 5th

Saturday evening after it cooled off, I saddled Knight took him to my outdoor arena. I got on him rode him around the pen first at a walk, then into a trot. He was not very willing to go forward and was often times trying to push through my hands and my legs. He was getting pretty frustrated because he was trying to avoid what I was asking him to do. I wouldn't let him have the release until he at least tried to do what I ask him to do. He used this lack of understanding as a tool against me but I don't think that it was intentional on his part. He was just reacting in his strong survival mode. I rode him up there for 20 minutes then I went outside the arena and rode him in the yard, he seemed to be better in the yard until we got close to the house, the air conditioner, really bothered him. Seeing his reflection in the widows really bothered him, riding pass the car in the driveway and caugth a glimpse of his own reflection in the car window ,this was also troubling to him. I just keep milling around out in the yard, trying to get him going freer, going around trees, riding pass the AC, all in all he's doing pretty well. My confidence is coming up as he has proven he's not going to blow up and try to unload me. SO I can start to become alittle more assertive at times. This is a good feeling for me. With my building confidence I decided to ride him down the driveway. He seemed to be freeing up and willing to go down the long driveway, it is now dark. So I decided to ride up and down the driveway awhile. Took him down to the road then back to the house and back down again. Each time I go down then back up, he seems to get more confident. I think it was the 3rd trip down to the road that my neighbors started shooting off fireworks, some pretty big ones,big boom, bright flash of light and the falling shooters from the flash of light. To my surprise Knight just looked up at them and continued on doing what I was asking him to do. I know a lot of broke horses would of been bothered by that.